'Estonia’s new European Course' by Luukas K. Ilves

21/03/2019

Luukas K. Ilves, deputy director and senior fellow at the Lisbon Council, publishes a hard-hitting op-ed on 'Estonia's new European Course', where he runs through the policy promises of Estonia’s extreme right nationalists who are on the verge of entering a coalition government for the first time. The manifesto includes a promise to hold a referendum on Estonia’s EU membership if more power is concentrated in Brussels and a ban on non-Estonians voting in local elections. Says Mr Ilves: "Following parliamentary elections on March 3rd, Prime Minister Jüri Ratas and his Keskerakond party (ALDE) are in negotiations with Isamaa (EPP) and euro-skeptic EKRE to form a new governing coalition. The potential coalition has announced they will continue Estonia’s Western-orientation and EU and NATO membership. However, this statement needs to be read side-by-side with EKRE’s electoral programme, which contains a number of points that directly conflict with EU principles and EU and other international obligations."

runs through the policy promises of Estonia’s extreme right nationalists who are on the verge of entering a coalition government for the first time. The manifesto includes a promise to hold a referendum on Estonia’s EU membership if more power is concentrated in Brussels and a ban on non-Estonians voting in local elections.